Ingredients
Fruits
- 2 lbs apples (peeled, cored, and sliced; approximately 6 cups, Granny Smith recommended)
- 12 oz fresh cranberries
Spices and Flavorings
- ½ tsp ground cloves
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1 cup orange juice
- ½ cup packed brown sugar (adjust to taste)
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: Peel, core, and slice the apples, aiming for about 2 pounds or 6 cups. Gather fresh cranberries, ground cloves, cinnamon sticks, and orange juice.
- Add to Slow Cooker: Place the sliced apples in the slow cooker. Add the cranberries, ground cloves, cinnamon sticks, and pour in the orange juice. No need to be exact with apple quantity; close approximations work well.
- Cook the Mixture: Cover the slow cooker with its lid and cook on HIGH heat for 5 hours or on LOW heat for 8 hours. Avoid opening the lid during the cooking process to retain moisture and enhance flavor melding.
- Remove Spices and Blend: After cooking, remove and discard the cinnamon sticks. Transfer the cooked mixture to a blender. Add brown sugar starting with ½ cup and blend until smooth. Adjust sugar quantity based on preferred sweetness.
- Chill for Best Flavor: For optimal taste, refrigerate the apple butter overnight to allow the flavors to meld and intensify.
- Serve and Enjoy: Serve spread on biscuits, croissants, toast, or as desired. Enjoy your homemade cranberry apple butter!
Notes
- You can adjust the sweetness by varying the amount of brown sugar or omitting it for a less sweet butter.
- Granny Smith apples provide a nice tartness that balances the sweetness; however, other apple varieties can be used based on preference.
- This recipe yields approximately 20 servings, perfect for sharing or gifting.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or freeze for longer storage.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 hours
- Category: Spread
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
